Keyless lock



Patented Aug. 27, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OF FI C E KEYLESS LOCK William W. Hurtel, Los Angeles, Calif. Application April 25, 1944, Serial No. 532,641

5 Claims. (CINTO-298) This invention relates to a keyless'lock.

Speaking more specifically the invention pertains to a lock furnished with a series of tumblers, a predetermined group of which lmust be moved from their normal position until arrested by stops While all the remaining tumblers remain undisturbed, before the boltof the lock can be released, all the tumblers of the lock being manually operable so that the initiated person, who knows what combinationof tumblers must be adjusted to release the bolt, can operate the lock without using a key.

Among a great number of situations wherein the invention may be used to advantage,` may be mentioned for locking garages, gates, all types of out buildings, farm buildings, and for locking olce doors and entrances through railing and other office partitions, .and 'for locking various types of drawers, cabinets, cupboards, vand the like.

Among the vobjects of the invention lare to provide, for interchangeable use in the lock, a set of improved tumbler stop members foreach lock, said members desirably consisting of strips of rigid sheet material capable of being stamped out at low cost by dies, or of being made from plastic material; toprovide tumblerswhich are particularly well adaptedvfor being ymoved from their normal to their adjusted position by being directly engaged by the ngersof the operator; and to provide a set of manually liftable'tumblers which can be more safely depended on to gravitate from their lifted, stop-releasingpositionfto their normal locking position.

Other objects, advantages and features of Vinvention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what are at present deemed to be preferred embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a `iront elevation ofthe device lwith the tumblers being in bolt releasing position. -A few parts are sectioned on line I-I of Figs. 2 and 4, and some other parts are broken away in order to disclose underlying structures.

Fig. 2 is in general a longitudinal section of the device, including theface plate and handle means, the. plane of section being indicated by Athe face plate and operating handles removed;

Figsnl and 5are cross sections of the device taken respectively on the planes `indicated vby lines 4-4 and 5-5 on Fig. 1.

Fig. y6 is a perspective view showing an-example of a combined bolt carrier and tumbler stop plate which maybe substituted for the corresponding plate of Fig. 1 to varythe combination of tumbler elements which it is necessary to adjust before the locking bolt can be released.

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of a single special 4tumbler which is `one of alpair of tumblers which cooperate with `the vsame` stop means on the bolts or vbolt carriers. 1

Y'Fig. 8 isa detailed perspective view ofthe other'tumbler of the vabove mentioned pair.

Fig. 9 is a 4cross `sectionpn line 9 9 of Fig.' 1, illustrating stop meansf'which cooperatewith a specific: group of tumblers'the midwidthrpart of the'device `being'broke'n out to contract the View.

Fig. 10' is a perspective view of analternative construction,` showing-a locking boltwhich does not require a carrerfandfembodies in itself the stop means lwith which the "tumblers cooperate.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view 'of the device modied for use principally to lockliftable doors, the enclosed portion of'the lockingbolt-of Fig. 10 being `usable infthissand `similar situations or wherever locking bolts of this moidied design are required.

AReferring in detail to the drawing, the elongated casing'shown comprises .a generally-rectangular face plate |2,`back plate lf3 and fastening meansshown` as bolts `,i4 passing through corner portions ofthe `casingto hold -said ytwo plates together. Suitableanges are Ashownon said plates to close in the sides and ends of the casing, said face plate having along its upper Y edgev a backwardly @directed 'flange ,I 5 whichv engages the router face of alike liange I6 of` the back plate. Corresponding `to lsaid 'flanges' `I5 and l-E, the :casing plates have bottom flanges l1 rand I8, butthese arecutqa-way atwlasshown Vin Figs. 4, k5 and 11"` (the latter being -a modication in regardto the locking bolt only), to

provide manual access to the liftable Vtumblers ofthelock. v

The elongated locking `member of Figs.- 1 to `5 consists `of vtwo principal parts, a locking `bolt 2l andI alocking .bolt` carrier 22. Said bolthas a lbeveled lockinghead 23 Aand the vcarrier is pro-1 vided yat its back side with a projection v'I4-jatfording ashoulder .f2-4a' which may be used to limit theretraetive movement of Ythe bolt. Adjacentrto its oppositeforinner end` said bolt car.-

lrier has another projection 24h, said two projections spacingthe intervening portion of the Ibolt away from the back plate I3, thereby providing a working clearance for the tumblers `hereinafter described.V Also the bolt has at itsy inner end a preferably integral stem 25, the end of which carries a head 26 which alines with the body portion of the bolt.

Returning to the bolt carrier 22, this member is shown formed ofja single piece of rigid metalV or plastic sheet material which isvshaped to form a channel having interrupted side wallswithin retracted position, this movement automatically taking place when a door carrying the lock is g which the boit 2| is fitted to move longitudinally in relation to the carrier from an extended to a moved to a closed position causing the beveled y In order to utilize the bolt carrier as a tumbler spring .28 oneiend of which engages the head 26 and Vthe, opposite end of which abuts against a casing -end wall formed bya flange 29 carried` by the back plate of the casing. Sheet metal,

or plastic, spacing boxes 30and V3| are shown to fillin properly the spaces at each sideof said spring and'alsoto .assist in guiding `the movel mentroftthe locking bolt `2| and carrier 22. 1

.. In orderzto secure the desired cooperation be-y tween'the bolt carrier 22 and the adjustable tumblers presently to kbe described, said carrier is `furnishedalong each of its sides with' a series of stopsjthese, stops being lformed by angular an'ges with which said carrier is provided when it is stamped out of sheet metal, orv otherwise manufactured; The vcharacter of these, stop anges is mostclearly shown in Fig. 6, which view, however, shows a carrier 22a: having a Vdifferent'arrangement of said stop flanges, for it is` designed with a' View to being substituted for said carrier 22 or for any other pattern of carrier belonging to a, set of combination-changing carriers to be used Ywhen it is'desired to change the combination of tumiblers which must-be oper` ated in orderrto release the locking bolt.

i Describing from left'to right (Figs. l, 2 and 3),` v'the stop flanges of the carrier 22,y and the tum-V lwhen both of these adjacent tumblers, along 'with 'certain `othersa re' lifted from their locking position to the position shown in Fig. 1. Said tumble'r 31 is Shown having at one end a right angular deflected and then'reben't upper end .portion 31a the'terminal part` of whichparallels the 4bo'dy Y portion ofthe tumbler-in a considerably spaced 'relation thereto, and at its VOpposite end this head of the bolt tobe retracted by engaging a l striking plate mounted at one side of the door i opening.

l controlled means for manually-retracting the bolt said carrier has a bolt operating endfedge por- 3 tionor flange portion 21 which has its-back edge I deeply notched at 21al to provide a working clear- 1 ancefor theV aforesaid bolt stem 25.l At times 3 ,said Aflange 21- is moved against. the head 26 of i the stem 25l to retract the bolt 2 l both retractive ,movements ofthe bolt being opposed by a coil tumbler has an arcuately rebent end portion 31b the terminal part of which also parallels and is spaced away from the body portion of the tumbler. lIlhe offset parts 31a and 31b are both directed toward the front side of the casing; The tumbler 31 also has a notch 31c cut centrally in its left edge as a space economizing feature, said notch providing additional space for the travel of the projection 24 of the shoulder 24a of the locking-bolt carrier or "shoulder 24a of the substitute locking member 16 of Fig. 10, when the latter is used.

The tumbler 38 has a forwardly deflected upper end portion 38a. which carries, preferably integral Y therewith, a rectangular plate 38o which correspondsvin position and function to the terminal rebent part of 31a of the tumbler 31,Y for both part 31a, and 38e engage the flange 35 of the bolt carrier to obstruct retraction of the locking bolt whenever the tumblers 31 and 38 are allowed to gravitate to their lower position. n From Fig. '1 it is seen that said plate l38e is albout twice -as long as wide and has one of its cornerportions secured to the part 38a, and the leftward extentof the plate being suicient to span the space occupied Aby the tumbler 31, so that Athe tumbler 38, as well as 31 may engage the bolt carrier flange 35 to obstruct retraction of the bolt 2 l, hence either one or both of these tumblers can make Vthis obstruction.

The lower end portion of the tumbler 38 l(from l the viewpoint of its mounted position) has a rebent part 3817 corresponding size, shape and position to the already described part 31h rof tumbler 31,

In Fig. 9 is shown a'tumbler 40 which is typical of `the three tumblers designated by same nu` merals 1.y Each of these tumblers 40 terminates at its upperend in a flange 40a which is kforwardly directed at a right anglev to the body of the tumbler. f Y

The already mentioned casing flange I6 has a downwardly directed lip |611. Said lip extends along the entire space occupied by all the tumblersshown and serves as a stop means to limit the downward gravitation Vof each of the three tumblers 40, andit also supports them in a bolt releasing position. If a person who does not know the combination raises oneor more of these tumblers 40, he will be as positively locked out as he'would be if he failed tok raise anyone' or more of the' other Yfour tumblers., It is necessary thatA said lip'lBy extend along the entire space occupied by the tumblers; as'above stated, in order to make the tumblers and the two carriers 22 and 22:1: (or additional ones) interchangeable in making changes in the combinations.

' Each tumbler 40 is shown furnished witha rebent Vlower end portion 40h, which feature is found in alll the tumblers-40. Also allfof said three tumblers, as indicated at z in various places in the drawingare shown having'a finger depression w-hichmakes it easier, particularly when operating the lock in the darkness, to locate the fingers on only the proper tumblers to be operated. t

. bolt carrier 22,besides those already mentioned in connection .with its flanges 35 and 36, these additional flanges willV be more readily understood by noting rst the similar `stop flanges of vthe substitute bolt carrier 22a: of Fig. 6, which is furnished from left to right with angular stop flanges a, b, c,'d, e and f. From the upper sideof the bolt carrier 22 project (naming them from left Ytoright), angular stop flanges 4I, 42 and'43, each Referring to additional stop shoulders of the of l whichare shaped like. .the flanges sc. and .e :of Fig:l 6. Thesamefzside ofthegfbltcarrier 122 :also has two intervening .bolt channel forming flanges 44, one of vwhiclrappears section in'Fig.fI5,:.besides the channelforming anges'dlz andld dottedly indicated in Fi'g.l1. Alongithe; lower :side of the carrier, from left: to right are the channel forming flanges 49, 50, 5| and 52 (the latter a long llange) dottedly indicated in Fig. 1; and, in addition to the broad stop forming flange 36 already mentioned, the angular stop forming lianges 53 and 54.

I'I'umblers 56o and 51 alternate with the aforesaid tumblers 40. These intervening tumblers will be readily understood from the sectional showing of tumbler 51 in Fig. 5, it being understood that these two tumblers are alike except that 51 has a slot 51s cut into its lower end to allow a turnable headed pin 59 to pass through the casing, said pin having tightly secured to it within the casing a forked arm 60 which straddles an apertured edge portion of the llange 54 of the locking bolt carrier. Arm 60 may be suitably modified for connection with the locking bolt itself if no locking bolt carrier is used. A thumb piece 6I is secured to the projecting front end of said pin 59 to afford a means for retracting the locking bolt carrier, or the locking bolt when no carrier is used. A screw 62 is shown screwed into a socket provided for it in the pin 59 to attach the thumb piece to the pin. This thumb piece, however, is only an auxiliary means for retracting the bolt carrier 22, or the bolt only.

There is also shown a retracting knob 63 which is fastened onto athreaded stud 64, the inner end of which is welded or otherwise secured to the locking bolt carrier, or to the locking bolt itself when no carrier is used. 'Ihe face plate I2 of the casing has through it a longitudinal slot 65 to unobstruct the movement of said stud 64.

When thin sheet material is used to construct the bolt carrier, a, reinforcing head 66 (Fig. 2), may be welded to the screw and to the sheet metal of the carrier, the locking bolt being provided with an elongated recess 61 extending lon- 7^ gtudinally thereof to provide a working clearance for said welded-on head.

IIt will be observed that the various tumblers shown consist of straps of rigid sheet material which have their end portions bent toward the same side to provide them with sturdy, easily manufactured stop-engaging flanges.

In Fig. 10 is shown a modied locking bolt 10 the body portion of whichhas, naming them from left to right, a series of stop projections 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e and 10f, these stop projections respectively corresponding in size and position to the stop means afforded by the flanges a to f of the substitute bolt carrier 22x. The end portions of the modied locking bolt 10 are of the same shape and size as those of the locking bolt 2| except that the latter bolt has a beveled head 23, whereas the modified bolt has a square head 23x. A notch 10n is provided in projection 10i of the bolt 16 to provide an operating space for the retracting arm carried by the manually turnable pin 59, it being unnecessary to slot said arm in this situation.

In Fig. 11 the lock is shown on a reduced scale constructed the same as in Figs. l, 2 and 3 except that the locking bolt is provided with an exten-` sion 12, shown directed downwardly, carrying at its lower end a beveled latching head 13. Among other uses to which the lock of Fig. 11 is adapted to be put is to lock an upwardly and downwardly.

6. movablefgarageoor .to .the flooror-:doonsillfof the garage.V It isttoV bei understood that Vthis'modi edflockzwillbe attache-d ftothelower edge portions 'offsuchigarage doors, so thatfthe user, .after lifting the.lockfreleasingtumblers, will continue.

the upward -pressure of his :fingers tol open Vthe door, the flock :constituting a handle .means 1 for lifting the door to its open position.

I claim:

l. In a lock of the kind described, a casing, an elongated at times longitudinally movable locking bolt carrier mounted in said casing, a locking bolt carried by said carrier and independently movable in a lengthwise relation thereto, said locking bolt being given its independent movement by closing the door, said carrier consisting of rigid sheet material having oppositely projecting side flanges to form tumbler engaging stops, and a series of elongated tumblers the individuals of which extend in a crosswise adjacent relation to said carrier to cooperate with its stops and are supported by said casing for selective manual longitudinal movement to adjust them to release said carrier to permit of its retraction together with the locking bolt which it carries.

2. In a lock o f the kind described, a casing, an elongated at times longitudinally movable locking bolt carrier mounted in said casing, a locking bolt carried by said carrier and independently movable in a lengthwise relation thereto, said carrier consisting of rigid sheet material and having an elongated back plate portion furnished along each of its side edges with an inner row of angularly directed flanges, said ilanges and plate portion cooperating to form a channel Within which the locking bolt has a working fit, and other flanges projecting from said back plate portion which alternate with the rst recited iianges along each side of said carrier to form operate with said stops, said series of tumblers comprising a pair of adjacent tumbler strips of rigid material which are slidable transversely in relation to said looking member, and both of which cooperate with the same stop of said locking member, the members of said pair of tumbler strips occupying different adjacent positions in relation to the length of said locking member, and one of them having an extension which reaches across the other and is engageable with the same stop on said locking member as that with which its mate cooperates, thereby causing said paired tumbler members to perform the same function in the same manner, and making it necessary to operate the two of them as a unit in releasing the locking member for retraction.

5. In a lock of the kind described, a casing, an

elongated locking member mounted therein to be longitudinally moved at times, said member caroperatewith said stops, said series of tumblers comprising a pair` of adjacent tumblers which are slidable transversely in relation to said locking member, and both otwhich cooperate with the j same stop of said locking member, the tumblers of said pair occupying different adjacent positionsr n relation to the length of said locking member and one' of themhaving an extensin which is vengage'zalble with the same stop on said locking member as that with which its mate cooperates, thereby'makng it necessary to operate 'Y 

